492 Mr. G. A. Boulengcv on an African BarleJ. LYIT. — On an African Barhel hitherto confounded with Barbns trimaculatus, Peters. By G. A. Boulenger, F.E.S. Following the lead of GUnther *, Steindachner f, and Max Weber %, I have hitherto referred to Barhus trimaculatus a small barbel common in British Central Africa, Rhodesia, Portuguese East Africa, Angola, the Transvaal, and Zulu-land. Having recently had an opportunity of examining great numbers of these fishes, I have come to the conclusion that they cannot possibly be identified with the species so carefully described and figured by Peters §. As suggested by the latter autjior^ B. trimaculatus, established on a single example from the Eovugo River, Mozambique, is very closely related to, if not identical with, B. trispilus, Bleeker, of which I have recently given a description ||. The species for which I now propose the name B. decipiens differs from B. trimaculatus and B. trispilus in its strong ossified last simple dorsal ray, shorter barbels, and more numerous scales in the lateral line. It would never have been confounded with B. trimaculatus but for its deceptive markings, which, moreover, are by no means constant. I append a description based on the following series of specimens : — 2, R. Ruo, Brit. Cent. Africa. — Sir H. H. Johnston. 1, between Kondowe and Karonga, Brit. Cent. Africa. — Sir H. H. Johnston. 6, near Salisbury, Rhodesia. — Guy A. K. Marshall. 13, Mazoe R., Rhodesia. — J. ff. Darling. 6, Beira, Portug. E. Africa. — C. Grant. 2, Groot Olifant R., Transvaal. — Capt. G. E. Bruce. 5, Klein „ „ „ „ 2, near Komati Poort, ,, ^, 2j Potchefstroom, Transvaal.-— Stenning, 28j E. of Pietersburg, Transvaal. — C. Grant. 4, Umfulosij Zululand. — C. Grant. 1, Elcheleselwane, Zululand. — Dr. E. Warren. 9, Mossamedes, Angola. — Dr. W. J. Ansorge. Barhus decip)iens. Depth of body 3 to 4 times in total length, length of head 3| to 4| times. Snout rounded, as long as or a little longer * Proc. Zool. Soc. 1893, p. 619. t Sitzb. Ak. Wien, ciii. i. 1894, p. 452. + Zool. Jahrb., Syst. x. 1897, p. 151. § Reise n. Mossamb. iv. p. 55, pi. xi. fig. 4 (1868). II Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. (7) xviii. 1906, p. 33.
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